The Human Figure in Islamic Art: Holy Men, Princes, and Commoners

Many people believe that it is not permitted to depict human figures in Islamic art, but the Quran does not expressly forbid it, and the human figure does appear. While some Muslims have criticized and even destroyed human depictions as idolatrous, others have, from the very earliest period, commissioned works of art with human figures as an essential element. These figures appear everywhere: on ceramic dishes, inlaid metalwork, textiles, architecture ...